School of Communication doctoral student Trayana Kaleycheva presented at the International Association for Relationship Research (IARR) biennial conference, which took place July 5-9 in Boston, Massachusetts. Kaleycheva presented “Anxious Attachment, Hyperpersonal Effect, and Risky Behavior in Online Dating,” in the poster session on July 7.

IARR is an interdisciplinary organization that strives to promote advances in the scientific study of personal and social relationships and encourage collaboration among students, new scholars, and experienced scholars. The members represent a broad range of disciplines, with this year’s event most representing psychology and communication.

“I had a fantastic time in Boston. The conference provided immensely valuable international exposure and excellent opportunities for research collaborations and the exchange of ideas,” Kaleycheva said. 

Kaleycheva’s poster shared the results of an online survey conducted earlier this year among over 400 FSU undergraduates regarding their online dating experiences, trait attachment tendencies, and sexual health risks.

“These findings have important implications for online daters who might want to be aware of their attachment style and how it may impact the risks associated with internet dating,” Kaleycheva stated. She reported that online dating is positively associated with engaging in risky sexual behaviors and self-reported experiences with STIs, particularly among anxiously attached individuals. These individuals, characterized by their tendency to feel insecure in close relationships, to crave attention and affection, and to harbor a deep fear of rejection, were found to be more likely to date online, match with more partners, go on more in-person dates, self-disclose more, and experience hyperpersonal effects in online dating.

Kaleycheva noted that during her time in Boston, she participated in numerous sessions related to her research interests such as interpersonal communication, attachment, online dating, and technological impacts on personal relationships. She also explored other subjects including singlehood studies, family relationships, and social relationships’ implications for health and aging.